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COMPLETE TREATISE 



ON 



FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 



A NEW AND SUPERIOR METHOD OF TEACHING 

AND LEARNING TO READ IN FRENCH 

BY INVARIABLE RULES. 



ADAPTED TO ADULTS OR CHILDREN. 




PAUL E. GIRARD, 

FBENCH TEACHER AT THE FEMALE TEACHERS' INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

CLAXTON, REMSEN & HAFFELFINGER, 

Nos. 819 & 821 MARKET STREET. 

1871. 






t LIBRARY OF CONIJRESS. t 



39 



I -'^^^ / ^ 



{UNITEDISTATES OF AMERTCA.| 



PAUL E. GIRARD'S FRENCH SERIES, 

PUBLISHED BY 

CLAXTON, REMSEN & HAFFELFINGER, 

819 & 821 MARKET ST., PHILADELPHIA. 



1. A Complete Treatise on French Pronunciation. A new^ 
and superior method of teaching and learning to read correctly m } 
French. Adapted to adults or children. This treatise may be used 
with any French class book. 12mo. 34 pages. Paper coyer 

25 cents 

2. A Progressive French Reader (Perrin^s Fables, with a selec- 
tion of French Poetry from the best authors). This French Reader, 
to be used also as a Translator, a conversation book, and a book of 
composition, has a general and a particular index, to render the 
translation of the fables easier to the learner. It is followed by a 
vocabulary of over 2500 classified nouns and adjectives. 12mo. 
156 pages, half arabesque , , o $1.00 



3. Paul E. Girard's French Grammar, with exercises and con- 
versational lessons. 12mo. 129 pages, half arabesque 90 cents 



4. Paul E. Girard's French Verbs. The most complete and the 
clearest treatise on French verbs ever presented to the public, 
12mo. 73 pages. Paper cover , 50 cents 



5. Paul E. Girard's Complete French Class Book, being the 
whole series above mentioned, bound in one volume 12mo. 326 
pages, half arabesque $1.75 

Awj of the above hooks may he had at the Author^s Residence, 

1 (1) 



IN PREPAEATION 

1. A Complete Book of French and English Idioms, with sen- 
tences illustrating each idiomatical expression. 



2. Les Ayentures de Ti^liImaque, by r6n61on. A new edition, 
with a general and particular index, to render the translation easier 
to the learner, adapted to Paul E. Girard's French Grammar. 



3. Paul E. Girard's French and English Dictionary, preceded 
by a complete treatise on French pronunciation. This dictionary 
is newly composed from the latest and best French and English 
Dictionaries, and contains a great number of words not found in 
other dictionaries. 



PAUL E. GIEARD'S 

PRACTICAL AND CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH LESSONS, 

priyate and in classes, 

ARE GIVEN AT HIS STUDY, 

246 NORTH TENTH STREET, 

PHILADELPHIA, 
OR AT THE PUPIL'S RESIDENCE. 



SCHOOLS AKTD COLLEGES ATTENDED TO. 



A 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



ON 



FKENCH pronunciation; 



A NEW AND SUPERIOR METHOD OP TBACHINQ 

AND LEARNING TO^ READ IN FRENCH 

BY INVARIABLE RULES. 



ADAPTED TO ADULTS OR CHILDREN, 




BY 

PAUL E. GIRARD, 

FRENCH TEACHER AT THE FEMALE TEACHERS' INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHU. 



/ 
PHILADELPHIA: 

CLAXTON, REMSEN & HAFFELFINGEB, 

Nos. 819 & 821 MARKET STREET. 

1871. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 187^, by 

PAUL E. GIRARD, 
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

MEARS & DUSENBERY, 8TERE0TYPERS. MOORE BROTHERS, PRINTERS. 



PREFACE. 



This little book will, we hope, meet the approval and patronage 
of teachers and learners, as it does not interfere with the use of any 
French Keader published, and can be adopted with any. 

This manual can be placed in the hands of adults or children, 
either French or American, a^d is recommended to parents. 

It explains an entirely new systematic and progressive method for 
learning or teaching the rules governing French pronunciation and 
French reading. 

It can be used for teaching single pupils as well as large classes. 

The results the author has attained with it are wonderful. 

Paul E. Girard. 



(iii) 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



FRENCH PEONUNCIATION. 



§ I. OF THE FRENCH ALPHABET AND ACCENTS. 

1, We express our thoughts in writing by means of conven- 
tional characters, whicli are called alpTiahetical letters. An 
alphabet is a list of all the characters necessary to represent the 
sounds of a language. 

2, The French alphabet consists of twenty-six letters, of 
which the following are the names and the order : 

A, ah; B, lay ; C, say ; D, day; E, a; F, eff ; G, jay ; H", 
ash; I. e; J,jee; K, kah; L, ell; M, emm ; N, enn ; 0, o ; 
P, pay ; Q"^, qu ; R, err ; S, ess; T, tay ; U*; V, vay ; X, 
eeA's; Y^ e grec ; 7i, zed ; W, double v {vay^, 

3, These letters are of two kinds, the vowels and the conso- 
nants. The French vowels are the same as those used in Eng- 

* U has no equivalent name in English : its pronunciation is given in 
No. 10. Q. This letter is pronounced as cu (the French w). 

1 . How do we express our thoughts ? What is called an alphabet ? — 
2. How many letters has the French alphabet? What are their names 
and their order ? — 3. How do you divide these letters 1 Give the names 
of the vowels ; of the consonants. 

(1) 



^ COMPLETE TREATISE 

lish, viz. : a, e, i, o, u, y. The consonants also are tlie same as 
in English : b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, 1, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z, w. 

4. The names of the letters given in No. 2 have nothing to 
do with the pronunciation of French words. 

5. The vowels a, 6, i^ o, u^ y^ produce by their combination 
with other letters many other simple sounds^ which may be con- 
sidered as vowels. 

6. Some particular marks, called accents^ are essential to the 
orthography of the French words, and affect their sounds. The 
acute accent (^) is put upon e only. The grave accent (^) is 
put upon a, 6, u^ but affects only the pronunciation of e. The 
circumflex accent (^) is put upon any vowel, and gives to it a 
broad sound. The cedilla (^) gives to the c the sound of s, before 
a, o, u. The diseresis or trema is sometimes placed over a vowel, 
to indicate that that vowel has to be sounded by itself, as a simple 
sound. The apostrophe indicates the elision of a vowel. 

Y. The French pronunciation is based upon the perfect know- 
ledge of four kinds of sounds with which French words are 
formed, viz. : The simple sounds^ the compound sounds^ the nasal 
sounds^ and the syllahic sounds. Diphthongs, being the union 
of two of the above-named sounds, pronounced in one syllable, 
are not treated as separate sounds. 

8, Consonants, called also articulations^ are divided into four 
classes, viz. : The simple articulations, the compound articula- 
tionSj the double and the triple articulations, 

OF THE FRENCH PEONUNCIATION. 

§ II. OF THE SIMPLE SOUNDS. 

9. There are in French eight simple sounds formed from the 
vowels a, e, ^, o, u, y. The vowel e having three different sounds, 

4. Do the names of the letters of the French alphabet affect the pro- 
nunciation of French words ? — 5. What do you remark in the vowels ? — 
6. What marks are essential for the orthography of French words? 
Which are the accents, and upon which letters do you place them ? What 
is the use of a cedilla ? What is the use of a trema ? What does the 
apostrophe show? — 7. On what is the French pronunciation based? — 
8. How are the consonants divided? — 9. How many simple sounds are 
there in French ? 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 3 

the acute and grave accents are placed upon it to distinguish 
them. 

12 3456 7.8 

a^ e^ e^ e, i^ o, u, y 

They sound as 
a e a e ee ee 

in shall, in sister, in ale, in there, in sleep, in not. See No. 10, in sleep. 

12 3 4 5 6 7 8 

10. Remarlcs upon the simple sounds. — The circumflex accent 
is sometimes used upon a, e, i, o, u, thus : a, e, i, 6, u, and in 
that case each sound is pronounced broader, viz. : a as a in far ; 
^ as e in there j but prolonged ; i as e in me ; o as o in no ; U as 
the Frencb u given below^ but prolonged. The simple sound 
a, wben placed before the letter s, sounds generally as a in far, 
not as a in shall. The letter o when placed before s, sounds as 
o in nOj but not as o in not. The simple sound u is obtained 
correctly in the following manner : Place the lips, the cheeks, 
and the tongue in position as if you were going to whistle, then 
letting the breath pass through the small oval formed by the 
lips, you have the French u. 

§ III. OF THE SIMPLE ARTICULATIONS. 

11. The simple articulations are simply the consonants. To 
articulate them it is necessary to take one of the French vowels, as 
consonants have no sound of themselves. Let us then take the 
simple sound e to articulate them on it, and it will show us how 
to articulate them on any other sound : he, ce, de, fe, ge^ Ae, je^ 
Jce^ ?e, me. Tie, pe, re, se, ^e, ve, xe ze. 

12. Remarks upon simple articulations. — In French the 
simple consonants are articulated exactly as English, with these 
few exceptions: — 1. C=^h before a, o^ u. 2. ^ (cedilla) = s 

Which vowel has three sounds ? How do you distinguish these sounds ? 
Give each simple sound. — 10. Give the sound of each vowel having a 
circumflex accent on it. How are the letters a and o sounded before s ? 
1 1 . Can you articulate a consonant without a vowel ? — 12. How are Prench 
consonants articulated ? State what is peculiar to C, G, H, R, X, W* 
2* 



i COMPLETE TREATISE 

before a, o^ u. 3. C=s before e, e, ^, i, y. 4. G =^j before 
e, ^5 ^, i, ?/. 5. (? sounds bard as in gallop before a, o, ?/. 6. II 
is in French mi^^e or aspirate: when mute, the elision of a vowel 
takes place before it ; when aspirated, no elision of vowel takes 
place — but whether aspirate or mute^ the h is not articulated in 
French. Words in which the h is aspirated are given in No. 
68. 7. i? = rrin English. 8. X=^gz in English. 9. IF is 
employed in words adopted from foreign languages. French 
people articulate it as v, but in proper names they endeavor to 
pronounce it as a native. 

13^ The pupil must practise the following syllables in every 
way until he knows them well ; then he will be able to read 
without any difficulty all the French words formed only with 
simple sounds and simple articulations. 

§ IV. SYLLABLES FORMED WITH a SIMPLll SOUND AND A 

SIMPLE ARTICULATION. 
14. 

ba cy du fo gi he je ke la my nu po ri s^ te ve xa zy 

be ca dy fu go hi je ke le ma ny pu ro si te ve xe za 

be ce da fy gu ho ji k^ le me na py ru so ti v^ xe ze 

be ce de fa gy hu jo ki le me ne pa ry su to vi x^ ze 

bi ce de fe ga hy ju ko li me ne pe ra sy tu vo xi ih 

bo ci de fe ge ha jy ku lo mi ne pe re sa ty vu xo zi 

bu CO di fe ge he ja ky lu mo ni pe re se ta vy xu zo 

by cu do S ge he je ka ly mu no pi r^ se te va xy zu 

§ V. A FEV^ RULES ABOUT FRENCH READING. 

15, In French words there is no accent upon a particular 
syllable, as in English and several other languages. Every syl- 
lable of a French word is pronounced one after another, without 
accenting one more than another. 

Ig, In order to pronounce French words correctly, it is neces- 
sary to know how to divide them into syllables ; the rule for this 
is easy, but differs entirely from the English one. 

14. Practise the syllables given in No. 14. — 15. Is there any accent 
in French words as in English? How must syllables be pronounced? 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION! O 

17, There are in a French word as many syllables as sounds, 
either simple, compound, nasal, or syllahic ; and each sound ends 
a syllable. Ex. : Rapidite has four syllables, because that word 
possesses four sounds, a, i, i, e. The division of each syllable 
takes place after each sound, thus : Ra pi di te. This is a 
general rule. To avoid doubt, remember that one consonant be- 
tween two sounds always begins a syllable, and never ends one. 

18o The simple sound e is nearly silent at the end of words, 
but causes the articulation with which it forms a syllable to be 
articulated. Ex.: Dame, Da-me, pronounced Dam\ This e 
is entirely silent at the end of words when coming after a vowel. 
Ex. : Joliejoli. It is dropped in the middle of words for the 
sake of euphony. Ex. : J^i/7?iera,/w-me-m, pronounced /u-m'-m. 
It is always sounded in monosyllables, but when two monosyl- 
lables follow each other the e of the second is dropped gently. 
Ex. : Ne le lavera . . . , pronounced ne V la v' ra, . . . When 
three monosyllables follow each other the middle one only is 
dropped. Ex. : Je ne le ma . , . . , pronounced je n' le ma 

19, To avoid confusion, other rules will be given in due 
time. I will explain here a new way of spelling words before 
reading them. Pronounce only the sounds of the following 
sentence. Papa fumera sa pipe, thus : a, a, u, e, a, a, i, e. Now 
articulate upon each of the sounds the articulation placed before 
them, thus: Pa-pa fu-me-ra sa pi-pe, as you have been taught 
in No. 14, and then read fluently the whole sentence : Papa 
fumera sa pipe. 

The pupil will proceed thus in all the following reading exer- 
cises, until able to read fluently any French sentence. 



17 How do you distinguish the syllables of a word ? Where does the 
division of each syllable take place ? Give an example. What is said 
concerning a consonant between two vowels?— 18. State, and illustrate, 
what you know about the simple sound e.— 19.^ Illustrate the new way ot 
spelling a sentence to learn French pronunciation. 



6 COMPLETE TREATISE 

§ VI. WORDS AND SENTENCES TO SPELL AND READ. 
(Application of every preceding rule,) 

20. La caravane. La Havane. L'^pi. L'epde. Le 
cafe. Le modele. La rapidity d'une locomotive. Cora 

' finira sa robe de calicot. Sabine lavera la figure de Jerome. 
Jerome se leve a midi. Caroline va a I'^cole de madame 
Valere. Papa ira a la filature. Ma mere habitera la capi- 
tale I'et^. Le pilote a vu le navire. Le canari a ^t^ tu^. 
Zod a vu la pyramide. Ovide polira une lame. Papa a 
une pipe, ma mere a une robe de calicot. Sara a tenu sa 
parole. Valere a bu du caf^ moka. La pelote a ^t^ d^vid^e. 
Zemire a tu^ le joli canari de Polydore. Papa va a la 
cabane. 

§ VII. OF THE COMPOUND SOUNDS. 

21. We have in French five compound sounds. They are 
formed with two or three vowels, but they are pronounced as a 
simple sound, never as a diphthong. Three of them are merely 
different ways to write the simple sounds o, e, e. One is pro- 
nounced as 00 in the English word cool^ and the last is the irre- 
gular diphthong oi used exceptionally as a compound sound. 

22. COMPOUND SOUNDS. 

12 3 4 5 

au eu ai ou oi 

eau oeu ei 

They sound as 



o in no e {graver) e oo in cool oh 

1 2 3 T 5 

23. Remarks ujpon the compound sounds,- — Au at the begin- 

^ 20. Pronounce the sounds only of the reading exercise No. 20. Read 
every word and sentence by syllable. Read the whole several times. 
(Teachers will now dictate a few sentences from the reading lesson just 
learned, for the cultivation of the hearing only, and to prepare the pupils 
little by little to the dictations of the second book of this course.) — 21. 
How are the compound sounds formed? — 22. How do you write the first 
compound sound ? The second, the third, the fourth, the fifth ? Pro- 
nounce each one. — 23. Give the remarks upon the compound sounds. 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 7 

Ding of words sounds generally as o in come or not^ but at the 
end as o in no. Eau sounds always as o in no. Eu has two 
sounds — that of e in French words of more than one syllable, 
and a much graver sound in words of one syllable. (Eu sounds 
as eu in monosyllables. Ai sounds as e everywhere except in 
the termination of verbs used in the first person singular of 
the past definite and future simple, in which cases it sounds as e. 
El sounds always as e. Ou sounds as oo in the English word 
cool. 01 sounds as the French diphthong oe. 

24. In words of more than one syllable the division of the 
syllables takes place after each compound sound. When the 
pupil spells he must never divide the sound in spelling each 
letter composing it, but he must pronounce the sound itself. 
Ex.: Couteau. When spelling that word do not say c, o, |f, 
cow; f, e, a, u^ teau; couteau; but spell thus: ou, co2i; eau, 
teau ; couteau. Make use of this way of spelling with every 
French sound, either simple^ compound, nasal or syllahic. 







SIMPLE 


ARTICULATION. 








bau 


beau 


cau 


ceau 


ceu 


coeu 


cai 


eel 


clou 


foi 


gau 


geau 


heu 


joeu 


kai 


lei 


mou 


moi 


roi 


sau 


seu 


seau 


tai 


tei 


vou 


voi 


xau 


zeu 


zai 


vau 


leu 


rai 


dou 


boi 


beau 


sol 



§ VII. WORDS AND SENTENCES TO SPELL AND READ. 

(^Application of ever if preceding rule.) 

26. Une coupe. La foule. Le moine. La reine. Le 
joujou. Le locataire, Tautorit^. Le capitaine. Laure a 
une voiture. Laura a vu une baleine. J'irai a la foire de 
Beaucaire. Hilaire coupera le Rameau b^ni. Pauline 
aura toute la peine. Voila le bureau d'acajou. Made- 

24. When does the syllabie dirision take place in words composed of 
compound sounds? Spell the words couteau and vaucouleui^e. — 26. Spell 
the sounds. Read by syllables, and read fluently the words and sen-* 
tences in No. 26. (Dictation.) 



8 COMPLETE TREATISE 

leine a dout^ de toi. J'ai coup^ le beau Rameau de ma 
mere. Emile aura le joli couteau d'ivoire. Caroline sera 
sage a I'^cole. Voila une soucoupe neuve. Ovide aura 
de la m^moire. J'irai jeudi au S^minaire. Voila le beau 
capitaine. J'aurai une gaule de saule. Ma voiture a 
suivi la route du Poitou. Macaire aura du gateau. Voil^ 
le domaine de Laure. Laure aime la nouveaute. J'ai vu le 
bameau de 'R4n6. Je boirai de I'eau de Seine. Laura 
sera jeudi h Pau. Coupe-moi de la toile neuve. Pauline 
a sa robe de moire. 

§ IX. OF THE NASAL SOUNDS. 

g'f. Nasal sounds are the combination of any vowel with 
the letter n or m. These sounds are peculiar to French, and they 
require a little attention from the learner. 

28e. ^^6 have in French four nasal sounds — but the first is 
Spelled in four ways, the second in seven, the third in two, the 
fourth in three. 

29, NASAL SOUNDS. 

1 2 3 4 

in im ain on om 

yn ym aim 
ein 

30. The first sounds as an in "want, the second as in in 
f ami, the third as on in wo7ii; the fourth has no equivalent 
sound in English. Self-learners will do well to have the nasal 
sounds pronounced to them by a Frenchman. 

27. How are the nasal sounds formed ? How many are there ? How 
many ways are there to spell the first ? The second ? The third ? The 
fourth ? Spell the four ways of the first nasal sound. The seven of the 
second. The two of the third. The three of the fourth. — 30. Pronounce 
the four nasal sounds. 





ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 



31. 


SYLLABLES 


FORMED OF 


A NASAL SOUND AND A SIMPLE 










ARTICULATION. 








ban 


bin 


bon 


bun 


ben 


bain 


bom 


can 


cen 


cain 


cein 


con 


cun 


cyn 


dam 


dim 


don 


dun 


fan 


fen 


fin 


fein 


fon 


fun 


gan 


gen 


gim 


gain 


gon 


gun 


ban 


bon 


jan 


jam 


jen 


jin 


jom 


kam 


kin 


kon 


lem 


lym 


pen 


pain 


pon 


pun 


gan 


gin 


ren 


ram 


ryn 


rain 


ron 


run 


reun 


rom 


Ian 


lam 


len 


lem 


len 


lim 


lain 


laim 


lein 


ron 


ram 


man 


mon 


main 


nen 


nin 


non 


san 


sen 


sin 


sym 


son 


tan 


tyn 


van 


von 


xan 


xain 


zon 


zen 


zaim 


zum 


zun 


zon 



32« General rides upon nasal sounds, — When the letter n 
or m is placed between two vowels, the nasal sound never takes 
place, because in that case the n or m begins a syllable, but 
never ends one. 

Remember this rule. One articulation between two vowels 
always begins a syllable and never ends one. Ex. : inoui^ is di- 
vided thus: i-nou-i ; Americaine^ A-me-ri-cai-ne, 

There is also no nasal sound when the n or m is doubled. The 
division of the syllables takes place before the doubled n or m. 
Ex. : bonne, ho-nne; immohile^ i-mmo-hi-le ; but there are excep- 
tions in a few verbs, such as ennuyer^ to be pronounced en-nui-ie ; 
pronouncing the nasal sound (en). 

33. When spelled, nasal sounds must not be divided. Ex. : 
Pantalon, do not spell: jP, a, 7i, pan; t, a, ta ; Z, 6>, w. Ion ; 
p an talon ; but spell thus : an, pan ; a, ta ; on, Ion; pantalon. 



31. Read these syllables. — 32. Is there any nasal sound when n or m 
is placed between two vowels ? Also when double m or n is between 
two vowels? Give an example. — 33. Spell the \\ovd. pajitalon according 
to rule 33. 



10 COMPLETE TREATISE 

§ X. WORDS AND SENTENCES TO SPELL AND READ. 
(^Application of every preceding rule.) 

34a Demain, enfantin, invendu, humain, suzerain. Une 
anse. Une bont^, un conte, un comte, le manteau, un goii- 
jon, une peinture, la fente, un homme gantd, un jambon, 
de la confiture, une honte, un lambin, une lambine, un Am(i- 
ricain, une Am^ricaine. Aucun, aucune, certain, certaine, 
J'ai un bon pantalon de Nankin. Mon vin nouveau sera 
bon, papa le goutera^ ma mere en boira demain lundi. 
Simon aura un manteau de laine. Napoleon fonda un 
empire. Antonin aime la peinture. Maman sera lundi §, 
Lyon. Mon pere ira Samedi a Macon. Le magon a 
tombd. Remain a vendu le moulin de son pere a son cousin. 
Mon cousin Valentin, ma cousine Valentine. Je t'ai vendu 
une bonne boite neuve. Je t'ai rendu ton coupon de 
rente. Olympe tombe en syncope. Paulin a vu le m& 
decin, son cousin a regu du pain b^ni du cur^ de Meudon, 
J'aime le bon vin, j'en aurai une demi-pinte demain matin. 
Ma tante me repeta le symbole. Aubin boira de Teau a la 
fontaine voisine. 

§ XL OF THE COMPOUND ARTICULATIONS. 

35» Compound articulations are formed of two consonants, 
articulated in a particular way, different from the English ; two 
of them are formed with the letter u. 

We have in French six principal compound articulations ^ viz, : 

1 2 3 4 5 6 

che phe gne ille que gue 

34. SpeU the sounds. Read by syllables, and read fluently the words 
and sentences in No. 34. — 35. How are the compound articulations 
formed? How many principal compound articulations are there in 
French ? How are they spelled ? Articulate them on the simple sound e. 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 11 

36o Take the simple sound e to articulate them on it : 

1. Cli is articulated as sA in English, sAe, die, 

2. Ph '' '' f " <' or French, /e, 'phe. 

3. Gn " " gn ^^ mignonette^ gne^ gne. 

4. i^^. This compound articulation is called in French the 
liquid double I; the vowel i placed before the liquid double I is 
never sounded if preceded by another vowel ; it only shows that 
the double I following it has to be articulated on the next sound, 
as eye or ill in the English word hrilliant. This liquid sound 
never occurs after any other vowel but i. (See 11^ No. 68.) 

5. Qu is always articulated as h in French : he, , . . que. 

6. Gu '^ ^' as ^beforea^Oj-w. (SeeNo.l2,^i^e.) 
37» -^^5 cc, ddy ff, gg, II, mm, nn, pp, rr, ss, ft, are articu- 
lated in French as the simple articulations h, c, d, &c. (See 
No. 11.) 

In the articulations tit, rli, d^h, j^Ti, VJi, the h being always 
silent in French, articulate t, r, d,j, I, over the h upon the fol- 
lowing sound. 

38. SYLLABLES FORMED OF A SIMPLE, COxMPOUND OR NASAL 
SOUND, AND A COMPOUND ARTICULATION. 



cha 


che 


che 


che 


chi 


cho 


chu 


chy 


pha 


phe 


phe 


phd 


phi 


pho 


phu 


p^y 


gna 


gne 


gn6 


gn^ 


gni 


gno 


gnu 


gny 


ilia 


ille 


ille 


ill6 


illi 


illo 


illu 


illy 


qua 


que 


que 


qu^ 


qui 


quo 


qu5 


q^y 


gua 


gue 


gue 


gu^ 


gui 


guo 


gue 


giiy 


chau 


clieu 


chai 


chou 


chei 


cheau 


chai 


chei 


phau 


pheu 


phai 


phou 


phai 


pheau 


phoeu 


phei 


gnau 


gneu 


gnai 


gnou 


gnoi 


gneau 


gneu 


gnei 


illau 


illeu 


illai 


illau 


illoi 


illcau 


illou 


illei 


phan 


phin 


phon 


phun 


phein 


phain 


phom 


pheim 


clian 


chin 


chon 


chun 


cham 


chein 


chom 


chum 


gnan 


gnin 


gnon 


gnun 


gnen 


gnein 


gnom 


gnum 


illen 


illin 


illon 


illun 


illan 


illain 


illom 


ilium 


quan 


quin 


quon 


qu'un 


quen 


quim 


quom 


qu'un 



37. How are the douhle consonants 66, cc, &c., articulated? Also th^ 
rh, &c. — 38. Eead the syllahles in No. 38. 

3 * 



12 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



guau 


gum 


guon 


gum 


guan 


guon 


gum 


guon 


bbe 


ffai 


lion 


mme 


nna 


ppen 


rrom 


ssin 


ttan 


the 


rhyn 


d'ho 


j'hu 


I'ha 


n'ha 


Phi 


illon 


d'hai 


mme 


ssou 


rhin 


thieu 


sson 


ppou 


ppen 


mmi 


nnan 


ccou 


ddin 


illon 


qu'on 


qu'au 



N. B. — A few of the above syllables are never used, but they 
have been placed here for practice. 



§ XII. WORDS AND SENTENCES TO SPELL AND READ. 
(^Application of every preceding rule.) 

39. L'anche, I'agneau, la bague, le baillon, une bai- 
gnoire, la coque, le caillou, la chaussure, une chose digne, 
un ^veque d^chu, une lame ddrouill^e. Une futaille vide, le 
feuillage, une nymphe, ma paillasse, son rhume, la rognure. 
Philippe chanta une chanson a mon ami Benjamin. S^ra- 
phine acheta un peigne d'ivoire. J'ai ddrouill^ mon 
couteau. Napoldon gagna la bataille de Montevideo. Le 
chateau sera magnifique, Voila le feuilleton qui amusa 
mon p^re. Le quinquina a gu^ri Dominique. J'ai bu du 
vin de Champagne §. la campagne. Pamphile a soigne 
Mathieu, Agathe achetera une guimpe k la foire de Pantin. 
J'acheterai un beau chapeau de paille. J'habiterai la cam- 
pagne Fete. Voila un beau mddaillon. Je commanderai 
son bataillon demain a la revue. Jean a vendu son agneau. 
Le Ilh6ne a inond^ la campagne de Lyon a Avignon. Jean 
a un bon rhume. Mathieu a une futaille vide. Le 
phare guide le navire qui arrivera demain matin. La 
houille chauiFe le salon. Fanchon dansera un quadrille. 
Donne-moi du th^ ou du cafd. Je donnerai un morceau 
de pain a ton cousin. II sera a la maison demain matin i 
de bonne heure. 

39. Spell the sounds. Kead by syllables, and read fluently the words 
and sentences in Ho. 39. (Dictation.) 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 13 

§ XIII. OF THE SYLLABIC SOUNDS. 

40» These sounds are formed of a simple or compound vowel 
and a consonant. The vowels retain the sound they have re- 
ceived when treated as simple or compound sounds. The vowel 
c forms an exception, and sounds in syllabic sounds as the simple 
sound ^. Ex. : eh^ ec, ed, &c., sound as eb^ ec, et7, &c. 

Syllabic sounds if spelled, must not also be divided. Ex. : 
Journal, Do not spell y, o, u^ r, jour ; n, a, I, nal ; Journal; 
but spell in this way : our, Jour ; al, nal ; Journal. 

For the division into syllables, remember that it takes place 
after each sound, whether simple, compound, nasal, or syllabic. 
Ex. : Une lampe de vermeil, is divided thus : U-ne lam-pe de 
ver-meil. 

41. SYLLABIC SOUNDS FORMED 

FROM SIMPLE VOTVELS OR SOUNDS. FROM COMPOUND TOWELS OR SOUNDS, 



/" 






^~ 




\ 


/ — 








A 


«, 


e(e), 


i, 


0, 


u, 


y- 


aUj 


eUj 


ai, 


ou, 


oi. 


ab 


eb 


ib 


ob 


ub 


a 


li 


li 


a 


a 


a 


ac 


ec 


ic 


oe 


uc 


C6 


n 


u 


a 


a 


a 


ad 


ed 


id 


od 


ud 


a 


u 


a 


u 


a 


iC 


af 


ef 


if 


of 


uf 


yf 


a 


euf 


i( 


u 


oif 


ag 


eg 


ig 


og 


ug 


a 


aug 


oeuf 


u 


oug 


U 


al 


el 


il 


ol 


ul 


ji 


aul 


a 


a 


oul 


oil 


ap 


ep 


ip 


op 


up 


a 


u 


eur 


iC 


a 


U 


ar 


er 


ir 


or 


ur 


yr 


aur 


oeur 


air 


our 


oir 


as 


es 


is 


OS 


us 


ys 


aus 


a 


u 


ous 


u 


ax 


ex 


ix 


ox 


ux 


a 


a 


u 


a 


u 


li 



SYLLABIC FINAL LIQUID SOUNDS. 

42. Tlie following sounds are only used at the ends of words. 

40. How are the syllabic sounds formed ? What sounds have the vowels ? 
How is the vowel e sounded in syllabic sounds ? Give an example. 
How do you spell syllabic sounds ? Spell journal. Where does the divi- 
feion of syllables take place? — 41. Pronounce the syllabic sounds. — 42. 
How many final liquid syllabic sounds are there ? Spell the first, the 
second, the third, the fourth. Pronounce the first, the second, the third, 
the fourth. 



11 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



The il is liquid, and pronounced exactly as explained for the 
liquid ill in No. 36. 

1 2 3 4 

euil, mil J ail, eil. 

43a Euil and ceil, sound as e-eye; ail, as a^eye ; eil^ as l-eye. 
Self-learners will do well to have them pronounced to them by a 
Frenchman 

44, SYLLABLES FORMED OF A SYLLABIC SOUND AND A 
SIMPLE OR COMPOUND ARTICULATION. 



bac 


bal 


bar 


bee 


ber 


bil 


bir 


bel 


bol 


bur 


bceuf 


bour 


car 


cer 


cir 


col 


cor 


cul 


cur 


dar 


der 


dir 


dar 


dur 


deur 


fac 


far 


fer 


fif 


fil 


fir 


four 


gar 


ger 


gir 


gor 


hec 


her 


hor 


jar 


jil 


jour 


ker 


kir 


lac 


lar 


las 


ler 


lor 


leur 


lour 


mar 


mas 


mer 


mir 


mol 


mar 


mur 


nor 


nul 


neur 


nheur 


pal 


par 


per 


pif 


paf 


pa^il 


peur 


pour 


sil 


soc 


sal 


roc 


sac 


sal 


sec 


ser 


sar 


sue 


sul 


sur 


sair 


tel 


ter 


tic 


tac 


tir 


tyr 


val 


var 


ver 


vif 


vil 


vir 


vis 


vol 


var 


ceuil 


feuil 


teuil 


bail 


cail 


mail 


pail 


rail 


tail 


meil 


teil 


veil 


char 


cher 


gnal 


teur 


gneuil 


poil 


nair 


chair 


seul 


coeur 


voir 


I'ceil 


gneur 


gnoir 


geur 


I'oeuf 


zail 


teil 



§ XIY. WORDS AND SENTENCES TO SPELL AND READ. 

(^Application of the forty -four preceding numbers,) 

45. Une arme, rardeur, un a.miral, une borne, le balcon, 
la bordure, la carte, le carton degarni, un delta, un dortoir, 
I'dmail, le cheval, le bonsoir, Tazur du ciel, I'alambic, le 
canif, le fauteuil, le lorgnon, la barbe rouge. 

II y a une lanterne sourde sur la table de la cuisine. 
Voil§, un insecte sur I'herbe du jardin. Le remede calma 

44. Bead the syllables in No. 44. — 45. Spell the sounds. Read by syl- 
lables, and read fluently the words and sentences in No. 45. (Dictation.) 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 15 

la douleur de men pere. Je lirai le journal du soir. Martin 
boira la liqueur que lui versera le docteur. Victor a vu le 
conducteur de la voiture. Sylvain ecouta le sermon du 
cur^. Samuel portera le fardeau de sa soeur. Voila un 
beau tambour major de la garde imp^riale. Le garde mo- 
bile a ^te tu^ par la chute d'un mur. J'ai achet^ une lampe 
de vermeil pour ma mere. Martin a perdu son lorgnon 
d'or, son mouchoir, ainsi que sa canne. Adolphe a retrouve 
sa carte de visite. Matbilde a m^rite une recompense. J'ai 
dormi une heure sur le fauteuil du salon rouge. Luc sera 
de retour ce soir au manoir. Urbain a garde mon cheval 
pour pouvoir revenir domain matin a la pointe du jour. 

§ XV. OF THE DOUBLE AND TRIPLE ARTICULATIONS. 

46. A double and triple articulation is, as its name indi- 
cates, two or tbree consonants to be articulated upon a sound. 
"We will articulate tbem also upon the simple sound e. 



47. 


DOUBLE AND 


TRIPLE 


ARTICULATIONS. 




ble^ 


cle 


fl6 


gle 


pie 


bre 


ere 


dre 


fre 


gre 


pre 


tre 


vre 


sbe 


see 


sle 


sme 


spe 


St6 


pse 


pne 


mne 


ccle 


me 


pple 


bbre 


cere 


ffre 


ppre 


ttre 


phre 


thre 


scle 


sere 


sple 


sprg 


sqre 


stre" 


sthe 


sphe 


sque 


chle 


chre 















48. SYLLABLES FORMED OF A DOUBLE AND TRIPLE ARTICU- 
LATION, AND A SIMPLE, COMPOUND, NASAL, AND SYLLABIC 
SOUND. 



bla 


ble 


bl6 


bl^ 


bli 


blu 


blai 


blou 


bloi 


blan 


blen 


cla 


cle 


ele 


clo 


clu 


clai 


elou 


cloi 


blir 


fle 


fle 


fl^ 


flan 


gla 


glou 


pla 


pl6 


plei 


plo 


plai 


ploi 


plan 


plain 


plon 


bra 


br^ 


bri 


brc 


bru 



46. What is a double and triple articulation ? — 47. Articulate them on 
the simple sound e. — 48, Read the syllables in No. 48. 

3* 



16 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



brai 


brou 


brun 


brin 


bron 


brun 


broc 


era 


ere 


cr§ 


cri 


cru 


creu 


crai 


crou 


croi 


cran 


crain 


crin 


dra 


dre 


dre 


dri 


dro 


drau 


dreau 


droi 


fra 


fre 


fre 


M 


fri 


froi 


frac 


gra 


gre 


gre 


gr^ 


gri 


gro 


gru 


groi 


pra 


pre 


pr6 


pre 


pre 


pri 


pro 


pru 


prau 


preu 


prai 


prou 


proi 


tra 


tre 


tre 


tr^ 


trg 


tri 


tro 


tru 


trai 


trou 


troi 


treil 


vra 


vre 


vri 


vro 


vrai 


sbi 


sta 


St6 


smo 


stuc 


spar 


svel 


sph^ 


sque 


sbla 


scle 


sfla 


sphiu 


sbr5 


phl^ 


phry 


chlo 


chr^ 


thra 


blir 


blau 


troin 


sphe 


psau 


chro 


mn^ 


phra 


pneu 


spec 


bloc 


frai 


crac 


psal 


trou 


clou 


chr}'- 


grain 


frau 


plan 


crac 


broc 


crin 


tha 


splen 


plan 


slain 


cro 


cla 



49o WORDS AND SENTENCES TO SPELL AND READ. 

(Application of every preceding rule.) 

Un arbre, la fiotte, brusque, de Fambre, novembre^ 
d^cembre, une branche d'arbre, le troupeau, la grenouille, 
une fleuriste, la patrouille, un drole, vendredi, mercredi. 
Men frere prendra son livre, il le fera voir a sa s&ur. 
Claude traversa Grenoble en chemin-de-fer. Gr^goire me 
preta sa plume pour dcrire mon devoir. J'ai vu votre biblio- 
theque. Je prendrai de I'encre noire. Andre me preta 
son sabre le jour de ma fete. Blancbe ecrira au tableau 
son probleme d'arithmetique. Frederic a sonn^ la cloche de 
I'eglise. II apprendra I'orthographe a I'ecole du soir. Clo- 
tilde entonna un psaume a I'eglise Sainte Beatrice. Andr^ 
comprendra le motif qui lui fera faire ce travail. Sylvestre 
consulta son oncle. Fran9ois a cass^ une tasse de porce- 
laine. Fran^oise a plants un arbre; une branche de 
Tarbre a ^te cass^e par Torage. Prete-moi ta plume neuve 
pour ^crire une page d'^criture. J'acheterai une table ronde 



49. Spell the sounds, 
and sentences in No. 49. 



Read by syllable, and read fluently the words 
(Dictation.) 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 



17 



pour le salon. J'irai voir Claire lundi ou mardi, mercredi 
ou jeudi, vendredi ou samedi. II sera dimanche k sa 
maison de carapagne. Le drapeau tricolore de la Repu- 
blique Fran^aise a ete arbor^ sur le chateau, a la place de 
celui du roi de France. 



§ XVII. or THE FRENCH DIPHTHONGS. 

50» ^ diphthong is a coalition or union of two sounds pro- 
nounced in one syllable. To pronounce a diphthong well, the 
learner must distinguish at sight of what kind of sounds the 
diphthong is formed. 

You know that simple sounds are merely the vowels. The 
compound sounds are formed with two or three vowels, the nasal 
with one or two vowels and the letter n or m. Syllabic sounds 
do not form any diphthong with other sounds. 

It is easy to see that a diphthong is no difficulty. 

51, PRINCIPAL DIPHTHONGS. 

FORMED FROM THE 
DIPHTHONGS EXAMPLES. 

SOUNDS 

oueu OU and eu , . II a 6t6 un joueur effrene. 

oui ou *' i . . Oui, Louise jouira de la vie. 

ou§ ou ^^ 6 . . II a 6te enrou^ cette semaine. 

oua . , . . . ow '* a . . Ce rouage va mal aujourd'hui. 

ouon , , , » , ou ^^ on . , Nous jouons, nous louons (« si7en<) 

oin o " t?i , . Un coin, un soin, loin, du foin. 

ouan ou '' an . . La rille de Rouen est grande. 

ueu u *' CM . . Paul sera respectueux {x silent), 

ui « " i . . Donne-lui ce cuir. C*est la mine. 

ue u " ^ . . II Ta tu6. J'ai vu une nuee noire. 

ua u " a . . Voici un nuage. II continua. 

uin M '^ in . . Juin sera un beau mois. 

lou i '' ou . . La chiourme sera abolie, 

ieu i " CM . . Un lieu. Dieu. Adieu. 

iai, ie i '* S . , Je me confiai a son amitie. 

ia i " a . . II paria un diamant {t silent). 

ian i " an . . Ce negociant a ete confiant {t silent.) 

ion ...... t " on . . La passion, un lion. La ville de Riom. 

ien {almost always) i *^ in . . Ce lien ne tiendra a rien. 

ien {in a few nouns) i " en . . Une cliente, une patience. 

50. What is a diphthong ?— 5 1 . Spell the diphthongs in No. 5 1 , and read 
the examples. (Dictation,) 



18 COMPLETE TREATISE 

§ XVIII. EXCEPTIONS AND DIFFICULTIES. 

52. Exceptions are as important to be well understood as 
the sounds just learned. Without their knowledge the learner 
is stopped on the first line of a French book, sometimes on the 
first word. Some of the following exceptions are general, vsome 
are not. We have placed the exceptions to be considered as 
general rules from No. 53 to No. 58 ; and those which are not 
general from No. 59 to No. 68. 

53. The sound e is not pronounced after g before a, o, but it 
gives to that letter the articulation of j. Ex. : Gea^ geo =ja^ jo, 
11 songea au hourgeois qui nogea. It is not sounded in the verb 
To Have. Ex. ; eu = u,feics, tu eus, il eut, &c. 

54. The sound e sounds as I when placed before a doubled 
consonant. Ex. : Elle^ cette = Ue^ cete^ &c. ; La helle chapelle 
oil on diva la messe sera celle de Grenelle. 

55» The letter s is articulated as z when placed between two 
vowels, but double s is always articulated as s, never as z, Ex. : 
Aise = aize^ &c. Je serai hien aise de voir mon voisin. Void 
una chose que j^emporte a la maison, Ou est Louise^ je Vai 
mise en pension. La sagesse. Une deesse, 

56. ^^ is pronounced as e, at the end of words. Ex. : co- 
quetj secret, ioupet = coqul^ secre, toupl, &c. , 

57« E^^ is not pronounced at all in verbs in the third person 
plural, when ent is preceded by a vowel. Ex. : lis lisaient, ils par- 
latent^ Us chanteraient := ils lisai, ils parlai^ ils chanter ai ; but 
if ent is preceded by a consonant, nt only are silent, and the e 
follows the rule No. 18. Ex. : Ils lisent, ils parlent, ils chan- 
tent = ils Use J ils parle, ils chante. 



52. Are the exceptions important to leavn ? Are some general ? Is 
€ articulated after g before a, o ? — 54. How is e sounded when before two 
consonants ? — 55. How is s articulated between two vowels ? How is ss 
sounded? 56. How is et pronounced at the end of words'? — 57. What 
peculiarity regarding ent in verbs, third person plural ? 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 19 

58 The vowel y, if placed after a vowel, is pronoTinced as 
two distinct t's. The first i always forms a compound sound 
with the vowel placed before y; the second i forms a syllable 
by itself, if followed by a consonant, or it forms a diphthong 
with the sound following it. Y alone, at the beginning of 
words, or after a consonant, is always sounded as one i only. 
Ex.: Vn citoyen doit etre loyal d son jpaySj pronounce : %m ci- 
toi'ien doit etre loi-ial a son pai-is, H ?/ a une lyre ici. 

59, Consonants, with the exception of four, c, /, Z, r, are not 
articulated at the end of French words. Ex. : J^irai chez voiis 
avec un vif plaisir, Le bed aura lieu ce soir. Remark that 
when c, /, Z, r, are sounded, they always form with the preced- 
ing vowel a syllabic sound. Exceptions to this rule and the fol- 
lowing are given in No. 68. 

60. The nasal sound en sounds as the nasal sound in when 
placed after the letter i, in every kind of words, except in a few 
nouns. Ex. : Le mien^ le sien^ le tien ne sont rien en comparai^ 
son du hien qa'il a fait. II vient, il viendra. Je le previendrai 
que son cliien a ete donne a Lucien. Cet indien^ esi-il chretienP 

61 • ^^) ^^3 ^^) sound as e at the end of words. Ur is an 
exception in words of one syllable, and a few of two. Ex. : 
Venez chercher le faux nez, vous le mettrez pour amuser voire 
cousin, Allez chez le houlanger et chez le fermier. 3Ion pied 
est eiijle. 

62 o E^^ sounds as I. Et sounds as e, II est mon ami et vous 
aussi. Tit es avec lui et avec elle. Vous ne savez pas ce qu^il est, 

63» -^s is pronounced ^, in words of one syllable. Ex. : 
3fes limes, ses serises, tes lattes^ les dalles^ mes larmes, tes rentes, 
ces pihceSj des cordes, 

64. The letter t is articulated as s in words ending in tial, 

58. What is saiff of the vowel y? — 59. Which consonants are gene- 
rally sounded in French ? What do they form with the preceding vowel ? 
60. HoAv is en after i pronounced? — 61. How are er, ez^ ed, pronounced 
at the end of words ? — 62. How are est (is) and et (and) pronounced ? 
63. How do you pronounce es in monosyllables 1—64. When is t articu- 
lated as «? 



20 COMPLETE TREATISE 

tielj Hon. (See ti^ No. 68.) Ex. : La nation a void une nou- 
velle constitution. La potion est mauvaise. Cette action est nn 
acte impartial. 

§ XIX. OF THE UNION OF WQUDS. 

65. The rule given that a word ending with a consonant 
should be Joined to a word beginning with a vowel, is absolutely 
erroneous, and leads to a heavy affected manner of pronouncing. 

We give here the general rule. Two words are joined toge- 
ther by sounding the last consonant of the first on the beginning 
vowel of the second, every time that the reader or speaker would 
not be able to stop between the two words without breaking the 
sense of the sentence ; but when able to stop between the two 
words without breaking the sense of the sentence, the union of 
the two words must not take place. This is easily understood, 
when it is said that the union of words takes place for the sake 
of euphony only. 

66. When joined to the following words s and x are articu- 
lated SiB z; d SiS t; g as k;if as v; rt as r ; the other arti- 
culations according to their own way to be articulated. Ex. : 
Nous avons etc nous amuser a la campagne. Les enfants sages 

iront chez leurs amis pour s'y amuser. Tin grand-homme. 

Tort ou raison. 

The t of the conjunction et (and) is never joined to the next 
word. Ex.: Mes amis sont arrives etils ont amene leurs enfants. 

Vous et euXj lui et elle. 

§ XX. A FEW LAST OBSERVATIONS. 

6f , There are in French words which, as in other languages, 
are not pronounced according to given rules. We have carefully 

65'. What is the general rule for the nnion of w(fi-ds ? "When joined 
to a vowel how are s, x, d, g, f, and rt articulated? — 66. Is the t of tho 
conjunction et joined to a vowel ? — 67. If a consonant is placed between 
two vowels, where does the division of syllables take place ? If two con- 
sonants are placed between two vowels, what is the result ? And if throe 
consonants are placed between two vowels ? 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 21 

collected them, and placed them under the title of Remarks 
xipon the twenfy-six letters of the French afphahet. It is not ne- 
cessary to commit these remarks to memory, but to read them 
every time the pupil feels the need of it. 

Learners should begin now to read from The French Reader^ 
which follows this treatise. 

A few words more, and our Cor)i]jilete Treatise on French PrO' 
nunciation will be completed. 

To read well in French, the most important thing to know, 
not only well, hut j)er/ectli/ well^ is the sounds. The reader must 
be able to distinguish them, and to say such a word is composed 
of such a simple sound, of such compound sounds, and of such 
syllabic and nasal sounds. When reading in the Eeader, the 
pupil must practise the reading hy sounds, and hy syllables^ be- 
fore trying to read fluently ; and he must do it until he is able 
to pronounce every sound of a reading lesson fluently, and 
without any mistake of pronunciation. Let the pupil remember 
that one consonant between two vowels begins a syllable. If two 
consonants are placed between* two vowels, see if these two con- 
sonants are a double articulation or a compound articulation, 
given in Nos. 35 and 47 ; if so, they begin a syllable, and are 
never separated ; but if they are neither to be found as com- 
pound or double articulations, the first of these consonants forms 
a syllabic sound with the preceding vowel, and the second con- 
sonant forms another syllable with the followiog sound. If 
three consonants are placed between two vowels, the only thing 
to see is, if it is not a triple articulation ; if so, that triple arti- 
culation begins a syllable ; if not, the division comes between 
the first and the second consonant. 

PUNCTUATION. 

There are in Erench, as well as in English, ten signs of punctuation, 
called: — 1. La virgule, (,) the comma. 2. Le point et virgule, (;) the 
semicolon. 3. Les deux points, (:) the colon, 4. Le point, (.) the full 
stop, or period, 5. Le point d'interrogation, (?) the note of interrogation, 
6. Le point d'exclamation, (!) the note of exclamation, 7. Les points de 
suspension, (....) the notes of suspension, 8. La parenthese, ( ) the 
parenthesis, 9. Les guillemets, ('*) the inverted commas, 10. L'acco- 
lade, {\) the brace. 



22 COMPLETE TREATISE 

§ XXL 

68. UEMARKS UPON THE TWENTY-SIX LETTERS OF THE 
FRENCH ALPHABET. 

[N. B.— This section is not to he learned hy heart, hut referred to icJien the 
pupil needs it. It is a careful collection of every exception to the sixty-seven 
preceding rules^J 

A. 
The simple sound a is not pronounced in the following words : Aoiit, 
AUGUST ; curagao, curajoa (liquor) ; Saone (a French river) ; taon^ horse- 
fly. 

B. 

This consonant is not sounded at the end of words; but it is articulated 
in chih, CLUB ; Jacohj Jacob ; Caleh, Caleb. 

C. 

For this letter see No, 12. This consonant is articulated at the end of 
words. In the following ones it is articulated as g. Seconder, TO second; 
second, SECOND; secondement, SECONDLY; czar, czar; reine-claude, GREEN 
GAGE. 

D. 

The letter d is silent at the end of words, but it is pronounced in sud, sud ; 
Alfred, Alfred ; David, David; and in a few other proper names. In Ma^ 
drid, Madrid, the d is silent. 

E. 

The sound e is pronounced a in the words famine, woman ; indemniser, to 
indemnify; i«c?em72i7^, indemnity; solennel, solemn; and their derivatives, 

F. 

This letter is articulated at the end of words. By exception it is not arti- 
culated in the following: hoeuf-gras, cattle-show; des hcejifs, oxen; dea 
ceufs, eggs; chef-d^oeuvre, master-piece; clef, key; les nerfs, the nerves. 
F is sounded in the word neuf, nine, when used alone, but if followed by a 
consonant the / is silent. 

G. 

G is not sounded at the end of words. (See No. 12.) 

H. 

The consonant h is mute or aspirate ; when aspirate the elision of a vowel 
never takes place before it, and the preceding word must never be joined with 
the word beginning by an h aspirate. 

The following are the principal words in which it is aspirate. 



ON FRENCH PUNCTUATION. 



23 



hableur, 


boaster. 


hazard, 


hazard. 


hache, 


axe. 


hazarder, 


to risk. 


haie, 


hedge. 


have. 


wan. 


haillons, 


rags. 


bavre-sac. 


knapsack. 


haine. 


hatred. 


he! belas! 


ha ! hoy 1 hy ! 


hair, 


to hate. 


heler. 


to hail. 


haire, 


hair-shirt. 


hennir, 


to neigh. 


baler, 


to haul. 


heron, 


heron. 


halle, 


market. 


beros, 


hero. 


hallebarde, 


halberd. 


hersage. 


harrowing. 


halte, 


halt. 


herse, 


hearse. 


hamac, 


hammoch. 


herser. 


to harrow. 


hamegon. 


jish-hook. 


hetre. 


beech-tree. 


hampe. 


staff. 


heurter. 


to strike. 


hanche, 


hip. 


hibou, 


id. 


banneton. 


May -hug. 


bideusement. 


hideously. 


banter. 


to frequent. 


bideux, 


hideous. 


barangue, 


haraugue. 


bierarchie. 


hierarchy. 


baras, 


stud. 


hisser, 


to hoist. 


barasser. 


to harass. 


bobereau. 


hobby. 


barceler, 


to torment. 


hocber. 


to shake. 


bardes, 


old clothes. 


hola! 


holloa I stop ! 


bardi, 


bold. 


Hollande, 


Holland, 


bardiesse, 


boldness. 


bomard, 


lobster. 


barem, 


harem. 


Hongrie, 


Hungary, 


bareng, 


herring. 


honte. 


shame. 


bargneux. 


cross-grained. 


horde. 


horde. 


haricot, 


bean. 


hotte, 


basket. 


baridelle, 


jade. 


houblon. 


hoojjs. 


harnacher, 


to harness. 


houille, 


coal. 


harnais. 


harness. 


boule, 


swell. 


baro ! 


cry of shame. 


houlette, 


crook. 


barpe, 


harp. 


houpelande, 


houpp)elande. 


barpie, 


harj)y. 


bouspiller, 


to mob. 


harpon, - 


harjjoon. 


housse. 


horse cloths. 


barponer, 


to harpoon. 


houx, 


holly-tree. 


hate, 


haste. 


hucber. 


to hunt. 


hater. 


to hasten. 


Huguenot, 


Huguenot, 


haubans. 


shrouds. 


buees. 


hootings. 


hause. 


block. 


burner. 


to inhale. 


hausse-col. 


gorget. 


huppe, 


tuft. 


haiisser. 


to rise. 


burlement. 


howling. 


haut, 


high. 


burler, 


to ho IV I, 


hautain, 


haughty. 


hussard, 


hussar. 


haute, 


It igh. 


hutte. 


hut. 


hauteur, 


height. 







The letter 7* is aspirate in every word derived from 

There is no way but practice to know when the h is mute 

Before an h mute the elision of a vowel takes place. 



the preceding ones, 
or aspirate. 
Ex. ; I'homme, for le 



24 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



hommef the man. After a consonant h is not pronounced, except ch, which 
forms a compound articulation. (See No. 35.) 

I. 
The letter i is not sounded in the words T 



empoigner, 


to grasp. 


poignant, 


poignant, keen. 


moignon, 


stump. 


poign^e, 


handful. 


oignon, 


onion. 


poignet. 


wrist. 


poignard, 


dagger. 






And in the 


proper names Aignan 


, Cavaignac, 


3Iontaigne, 




J 


AND K. 




No remarks 


upon these letters. 


L. 

, at the end 




The letter I, 


which is pronounced 


of words, is not pronounced 


at the end of the following: 






baril, 


harrelj 


gril, 


toaste)'. 


chenil, 


hovel. 


nombril, 


navel. 


coutil, 


ticking. 


outil, 


tool. 


cul-de-sac, 


blind alley. 


persil. 


parsley. 


fenil, 


hay -loft. 


pouls. 


pxdse. 


fournil. 


hake-house. 


soul. 


intoxicated^ drunk. 


fusil, 


gun. 


sourcil, 


eye-hrow. 


gentil. 


pretty. 







In fils, SON, the I is silent and the s is pronounced. 

LL. 
The II is liquid after the vowel i or y only ; it forms then a compound arti- 
culation. (See No. 35.) 

Ill is never liquid at the beginning of a word. Ex. : illusfre, illustrated ; 
illimite, unlimited; neither in words ending in illaire, illation. It is not 
liquid in the following verbs, distiller, to distil; osciller, to oscillate; 
scintiller, to scintillate ; vaciller, to STAGGER ; and in the following words : 



AchiUe, 


Achilles. 


Lille, 


a city in France, 


codicille. 


codicil. 


mille, 


thousand. 


Cyrille, 


Cijril. 


papille. 


papilla. 


febrille, 


febrile. 


pupille, 


ward. 


Gilles, 


Giles, 


tranquille. 


quiet. 


imbecille, 


idiot. 


ville. 


city. 



And their derivatives. 

The letter I, double or single, is always liquid after the following sounds 
and diphthongs : ai, ei, oci, eui, uei, oui. Ex. : 

orgueil, pride. 

paille, straw. 

veille, watch {to), 

M. 
This letter is not pronounced in damner, to damn ; condamner, to CONDEMN; 
automne, Autumn; and by exception it is pronounced in Amsterdanif Harlem, 
amen, and a few other proper names. 



feuille. 


leaf. 


houille. 


coal. 


ceil, 


eye, glance. 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 



25 



N. 
This letter is not pronounced in Monsieur^ Pronounce it Meaieu, 

0. 
is not pronounced in faoiif fawn; Laon (a town in France); jpaon, 

PEACOCK. 



P is silent at the end of words. By exceptions it is pronounced in cap, 
cap; Gap, gap; Alep, Albp ; cep (vine-stock). 

P is generally pronounced in the middle of words, except in the following, 
in which it is silent. 

bapteme, haptism. exempter, to dispense, 

baptiste, baptist. sculpteur, sculptor, 

dompter, to subdue, sept, seven. 

And their derivatives. 

Q. 

This letter is articulated as h. It is articulated in cinq, five ; and coq, 
COCK. If cinq is followed by a consonant the q is silent. Ex. : cinq cents, 

FIVE HUNDRED. 

Qu. 
Qu, which is considered as a compound articulation (see No. 35), is pro- 
nounced as cou, in the following words : 



aquarelle, 

aquatique, 

Equation, 

Equatorial, 

Equateur, 

in-quarto, 

quadragesime, 



aquarelle, 

agnatic, 

equation, 

equatorial, 

equator, 

quarto, 

quadragesima. 



quadrag^naire, 

quadrature, 
quadrupede, 
quadruple, 
Quaker, 



{a person 40 yeara 
of 



of age, 
dial-work, 
quadruped, 
fourfold, 
Quaker, 



And their derivatives. 

Qu is pronounced as the letter k in other cases. (See No. 35.) 

R. 

This letter is always pronounced after the vowels a, i, o, u, y, except in 
the word IVLonsieur {sir). 

By exception to the rule 61, the letter r is pronounced at the end of th© 
following words, and forms with the e the syllabic sound er. 



amer, 


bitter. 


Jupiter, 


Jupiter, 


Belveder, 


Belvidere, 


la mer. 


the sea. 


cancer, 


cancer. 


Lucifer, 


Lucifer, 


cher. 


dear. 


Luther, 


Luther, 


enfer 


Tiell. 


magister, 


village school- 


envers, 


towards. 


master. 


Ether, 


ether. 


Niger, 


Niger, 


fer. 


iron. 


pater, 


pater. 


fier. 


proud. 


stahouder, 


stadholder. 


frater. 


ignorant surgeon. 


ter, 


third time. 


Gessner, 


Gessner, 


ver. 


worm. 


hier, 


yesterday. 


Ters, 


towards. 


hivep, 


tc^inter. 







26 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



Double r sounds as a single r, except in the future and conditional of tlie 
verbs, acquerir, to acquire; courir, to run; mourivy to die. 



The letter s is articulated in two different ways — that of c and of z; as 
in sais'r, to seize. 

The letter a is not articulated in the following words : 



scene, 


scene. 


Ovesme. 


science, 


knowledge. 


Du Guesclin. 


scieur. 


sawyer. 


d'Estrees. 


sceptique, 


skeptic. 


Le Nostre. 


sceptre. 


sceptre. 


Vosges. 


schisme. 


schism. 


And in a few other pro- 


Scythe, 


Scythian, 


per names. 



By exception s is articulated as z in the following words : 
Alsace, Alsatia. transaction, transaction. 

balsamique, balsam. transiger, to compound, 

balsamite, customary, transitoire, transitory, 

intransitif, intransitive, transalpin, transalpine. 

S is not articulated at the end of French words, but by exception it is 
in the following ones, as the syllabic sounds as, es, is, os, us, ys. (See No. 41.) 



Adonis, 


Adonis. 


jadis. 


formerly. 


Agesilas, 


Agesilaus, 


Jesus, 


Jesus, 


agnu^, 


Agnus. 


Kermes, 


Kermes, 


aloes. 


aloe. 


La Lys, 


a river in France, 


Amandis, 


Amadis, 


laps. 


lapse. 


Argus, 


argus. 


Las Casas, 


Las Casas, 


as, 


ace. 


Lens, 


a city in France^ 


Athos, 


Athos, 


Lesbos, 


Lesbos. 


Atlas, 


Atlas. 


lis, 


lily. 


Bacchus, 


Bacchus, 


mais. 


Indian corn. 


bis. 


tioice. 


Mars, 


Mars. 


blocus. 


blockade. 


merinos, 


merino sheep. 


Brutus, 


Brutus. 


metis. 


mongrel. 


Calus, 


Calus. 


Minos, 


3Iinos, 


cassis. 


blue currant. 


moeurs. 


manners. 


cens, 


census. 


omnibus, 


omnibus. 


cholera-morbus. 


Cholera. 


oremus. 


oremus. 


Cortes, 


Cortes. 


ours, 


bear. 


Delos, 


JDelos. 


Paris, 


the shepherd. 


Epaminondas, 


Epaminondas, 


Paros, 


Paros. 


Flores, 


Flores. 


Pathos, 


Pathos. 


Gil Bias, 


Gil Bias, 


Phebus, 


Phebus. 


gratis. 


gratis. 


plus-que-parfait. 


pluperfect. 


helas! 


alas! 


prospectus. 


j)rospcctus. 


hiatus, 


hiatus. 


Protesilas, 


Protesilas, 


ibis. 


ibis. 


rebus. 


rebus. 


iris. 


iria. 


K^gulus, 


EeguluB, 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 



27 



Keims, a city in France, tourne-vis, screw-driver, 

relaps, relapse. tous (pronoun), all. 

rhinoceros, rhinoceros, us, usage, 

Kubens, Ruhens, vasistas, casement window, 

sens, sense, Venus, Venus, 

sus, vpon, vis, screw, 

Titus, Titus, 

The s is not articulated in sens communy common sense; in Jesus Christ, 
Jesus Christ, and in Jieur-de-lis, flower de luce. 

T. 

The letter t is not articulated in French at the end of words, but by excep- 
tion it is articulated in the following. 

1st. In those ending in ct, as : 



aspect, 

contact, 
circonspect, 
distinct, 
infect. 



aspect. 

contact. 

circumspect, 

distinct, 

infectious. 



intact, 

respect, 

strict, 

succinct, 

tact, 



untouched, 

respect, 

strict. 

succinct, 

tact. 



2d. In the following also : 
accessit, accessit, 

Brest, Brest. 

brut, raw, 

but, hiitt, 

Christ, but not in Jesus- Christ, 



Test, the east, 

Touest, the loest, 

luth, hite. 

lut, luting, 

mat, mate, 

net, clean, 

occiput, occiput, 

opiat, opiate, 

Pesth, Pesth, 

preterit, preterite* 

rapt, abduction, 

subit, sudden, 

test, test. 

toast toast. 

transit, transit, 

un fait, a fact. 

ut, c, tit, gamut, 

virat, hurra ! 
In sept, huit, vingt, seven, eight, twenty, the t is not articulated before 
a consonant, but is articulated in other cases. 

TH. 
Th is articulated in French as t, 

TI. 

Ti is pronounced as ci in the syllable tia. Ex. : 3Iiliiade, Miltiade ; 
Spartiate, Spartan, &c. ; except in Bastia, Bastia ; centiare, French mea- 
sure ; il chatia, he chastised; tiare, tiara. 

Ti is also pronounced as ci in words ending in atie, itie, itie. 

Ex. : diplomatic, diplomacy. Nigritie, Nigrxtie, 
4* 



chut, 


silence. 


deficit. 


deficiency. 


dot, 


dowry. 


ex^at. 


exeat. 


fat 


fuss. 


fret, 


freight. 


gran it. 


granite. 


gratuit, 


gratuitous. 


immediat. 


immediate. 


introit. 


introit. 


Japhet, 


Japhet. 


Josaphat, 


Josaphat. 


lest. 


ballast. 



28 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



And in the words : 
argutie, quibhle. 



balbutier, 

Beotie, 

ineptie, 



to stammer, 

Beotia, 

folly. 



in i tier, 

minutie, 

peripetie, 



ta initiate, 

trifle, 

peripeteia. 



Ti is also pronounced as ci or a in words ending in tialy iiel, tieux, tion, 
tins ; but if these terminations are preceded by s or a^ the t is articulated also. 



Ex. 



digestion, 
mixture. 



mixtion. 



mixtion. 



digestion, 
mixture, 

The t is articulated also in verbs. 
Ex. : Nous etions. We loere, Nous montions, We loere ascending, 

T is articulated as s in words ending in tien, and in the following words : 

patient, sufferer. 

patience, patience. 

patienter, to take patience. 

In the following it keeps its own pronunciation as t, 

le tien, 



quotient, 
satiete, 



quotient, 
satiety. 



Amphictyon, 

Chretien, 

entretien, 

Epizootic, 

4tioler, 

la tienne. 



Amphictyon, 

christian. 

keeping in repair, 

epizoofy. 

to etiolate, 

thine. 



maintien, 
Petion, 
Sebastien, 
soutien, 



thine. 

maintenance, 

Petion. 

Sebastian, 

support. 



u. 



U by exception is pronounced after the letter g in the following words : 

linguist. 



aiguiser, 

aigue, 

aiguillonner, 

ambiguite, 

arguer. 



to sharpen, 
sharp, 
to goad, 
ambiguity, 
to argue. 



linguiste, 

consanguinite, 

Guise, 

inextinguible, 

sanguinaire, 



consanguinity, 
{proper name.) 
inextinguishable- 
sanguinary. 



The syllable gua is pronounced as goua in 
alguazil, alguazil. Guatemala. 

Guadalquivir, Guadalquiver, lingual, 

Guadeloupe, Guadaloupe. 

But in other French words the u is silent. 

Qua is pronounced quoua in a few words only, as : 
aquatique, aquatic. liquation, 

Equator, equator. quadragesimal, 

in-quarto, quarto size, Quaker, 

V. 
V is always articulated as in English. 

W, 
This letter is not used in French except for foreign words. 



Guatemala, 
lingual. 



liquation, 

quadragesimal, 

Quaker, 



In that ca«o 



ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 29 

ft is always best to pronounce it, if you can, as it is pronounced in the lan- 
guage to which it belongs. 

X. 
This letter is generally silent at the end of words, except in prefix, prefix, 
eilex, and in the following proper names : 

Sphinx, Fox, Pollux, 

Ajax, Aix-la-Chapelle. 

X is articulated as gz at the beginning of words, or when forming the syl- 
labic sound ex followed by a vowel. 

Ex. : Xavier, proper name. examen, examination, 

Ximenes, " " exercice, etc, exercise, 

Xerces, " " 

X is articulated as c in exces, exciter, &c,, to excite, 

X is articulated as z in the derivative words oideux, two; eixy six; dixy ten 
Ex. : Deuxiemement, secondly, dixieme, tenthj &c. 

X is articulated as ss in 



Auxerre, 
Bruxelles, 


proper name, 
« it 


Auxonne, 
dix, 


proper name, 
ten. 






soixante. 


sixty. 



Y. 

See rule 58. Y sounds as i after a consonant, or alone, and as two i*s after 
a vowel. 

Z. 

Z is articulated very soft at the beginning or in the middle of words, but 
at the end of them it is silent, except in the few following ones ; 
Cortez, proper names, Gaz, Gas. 

Rodez, " " ranz, ranz, 

Suez, " « 

The termination tz is articulated as sse in the following proper names. 
Austerlitz, Coblentz, Metz, Sedlitz, Seltz. 

And as ts in other cases, 



68. In which words is A not pronounced? What about 5? Explain the different 
ways of articulating the letter CI What about D, E, F, Gt When is the letter H 
mute or aspirate ? Which are the principal words in which it is aspirated ? What about 
J, J", Kl Is L pronounced at the end of words in French ? At the end of which words 
do you pronounce it? How do you pronounce Son in French? When are LL liquid? 
In v/hich words are they not liquid? What about J/, iV, 0, P, Qt What about Qu'i 
In which words is it pronounced cou'i Is R pronounced at the end of words? How ia 
er pronounced generally ? When is it pronounced as the syllabic sound ert What about 
RRt 1^ S articulated at the end of French words? At the end of which words is it 
pronounced ? In which principal words is T articulated ? What about TH, Til What 
about U, V. What about W in French? Is ^ articulated at the end of words? In 
which words is it articulated ? When is it articulated as GZ, C, Z, and as SSf What 
ebout T? What about Z; 



80 



COMPLETE TREATISE ON FRENCH PRONUNCIATION. 



KECAPITULATION OF THE TREATISE ON FRENCH 
PRONUNCIATION. 

I French Alphabet. 

J ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 
Vowels, 
a e i u y 



Conso7iaiit8, 
bcdfghjklmnpqrstvwx 



French Sounds and Articulations. 



1. a ; 2. e 

8.y. 

2 

1. au-eau 
5. oi. 



1. Simple sounds. 

; 3. 6; 4. d; 5. i; 6. o ; 7. u; 

. Compound sounds. 

; 2. eu-ceu ; 3. ai-ei ; 4. ou ; 



1. an-am 
ein-yn- 
eun. 



3. Nasal sounds. 
-en-em ,• 2. in-im-ain-aim- 
-ym ; 3. on-om ; 4. un-um- 



1. Simple articulations. 
b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, 1, m, n, p, r, 
s, t, V, X, z. 

2. Compound articulations. 
ch, ph, gn, ill, qu, gu, bb, cc, dd, 
ff> gg, 11, mm, nn, pp, rr, ss, tt, 
th, rh, d'h, j'h, Vh. 

3. Double and triple articidations. 
1. bl, cl, fl, gl, pi, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, 
tr, vr, sb, sc, si, sm, sp, st, ps, pn, 
mn; 2. ccl, ffl, ppl, bbr, ccr, ffr, 
ppr, ttr, phr, thr, scl, scr, spl, spr, 
sqr, str, sth, sph, squ, chl, chr. 

4. Syllabic sounds, 
1. ab, ac, ad af, ag, al, ap, ar, as, ax. 2. eb, ec, ed, ef, eg, el, ep, er, es, 
ex. 3. lb, ic, Id, If, ig, il, ip, ir, is, ix. 4. ob, oc, od, of, og, ol, op, or, os, 
ox. 5.ub, uc, ud, uf, ug,ul, up,ur, us,ux. 6. yl, yr, ys. 7. aug, aul, aur, 
aus. 8. euf, oeuf, eur, oeur. 9. air. 10. oug, oul, our, ous. IL oif, oil, 
oir. 12. Syllabic final liquid sounds, euil, ceil, ail, eil. 

Exceptions and difficulties. 
1. a, g, i, 6, % are pronounced broad. 2. C =k before a, o, u, ^ ==s before 
a, 0, u. 4. G = j before e, e, ^, i, y. 6. G is hard before a, o, u. 6. H is 
silent in French. 7. E is silent after a vowel, and nearly silent at the end 
of words. 8. The division of syllables takes place immediately after each 
sound. 9. N, m, nn or mm between two vowels never form a nasal sound 
10. E is not pronounced after g before a, o. 11. E sounds as e before a 
doubled consonant. 12. S = z between two vowels. 13. Et = g at the end 
of words. 14. Ent is silent in verbs, third person plural. 15. Y = ii after 
a vowel. 16. C, f, 1, r, are the only consonants articulated at the end of 
words. 17. En = in after the letter i. 18. Er, ez, ed = e at the end of 
words. 19. Est == ^ ; et == g. 20. T = s in words ending in tion, tial, 
tiel. 21. When joined to a word s and x •== z; d = t; g = k ; f = v 
rt = r, 22. Et is never joined to the next vowel, ' * 



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